Is Religion an Ideology? Cover Image

Ar religija yra ideologija?
Is Religion an Ideology?

Author(s): Andrius Bielskis
Subject(s): Social Philosophy, Marxism, Philosophy of Religion, Phenomenology
Published by: Lietuvos kultūros tyrimų
Keywords: ideology; religion; religious ideology; phenomenology of religion; Marx; Althusser; Destutt de Tracy;

Summary/Abstract: What is the relationship between religion and ideology? What does it mean to say that religion functions as an ideology? How should we conceptualize religion and ideology if one rejects simple “yes” and “no” answers to the question whether religion is an ideology? The paper aims to answer these questions by discussing one by one all possible answers to the title question: “No”, “Yes”, “No, but...” and “Yes, but...”. The concept of ideology originated in revolutionary France. Its originator de Tracy believed in the creation of a new science of ideas. After the Ancien Régime, ideology was supposed to change religion and become a positive force in society. Instead, the concept of ideology became synonymous to “doctrine”, while Marx gave it an exclusively negative connotation. Using Marx and Althusser’s critique of religion and their concepts of ideology, the article presents modified definitions of ideology, religious ideology, and religion. Given that faith in human emancipation is and ought to be at the core of religion, the article argues that, even if religion functions as an ideology, it cannot be seen and is not just an ideology.

  • Issue Year: 2020
  • Issue No: 15
  • Page Range: 112-132
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Lithuanian